Grease-cup.



J. G. MASTIN.

GREASE CUP.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22. 1-911.

Patented June 1, 1915.

@FFTWE.

JAMES Gr. MASTIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 JAMES G. KELLOGG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GREASE-CUP.

Application filed November 22, 1911.

0 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES G. MAs'rrN, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illi nois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Grease-Cups, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to grease cups having a variable feed.

It relates more particularly to grease cups of this kind in which the feed opening becomes larger as the feed plunger moves forward, and in which a spring is used for forcing the plunger forward. Thus the feed passage grows larger as the spring tension becomes weaker, and the feed of lubricant remains constant. Also, with this method the residual and less easily flowing portions of the lubricant are fed through a larger opening, which obviously facilitates the dis charge.

My invention relates to the means for producing this method of feeding the lubricant.

The object of my invention is, therefore,

I to provide an improved and novel device for producing an effective enlargement of the feed opening as the plunger moves forward. It is also an object to provide a Variable feed device of this character which will prevent opening of the cup while the plunger is in position to feed the lubricant.

To these and other useful ends, my invention consists in matters hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawingsFigure 1 is a vertical and' axial section of a grease cup embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the lower end portion of the movable feed valve member. Fig. 3 is an enlarged hori- Zontal section on line 33 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the lower portion thereof in vertical section. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on line 5-5 in Fig. 1, with the stem turned one-quarter around.

As thus illustrated, In invention comprises a cup-shaped base provided with a downwardly extending boss or threaded nipple a having a round bore a that terminates 'at its upper end in a square restriction a whereby the square upper end of the bore a is smaller than the balance thereof. A hollow cap or body B screws into the cup to form a lubricant chamber, and has a square Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June it, 1915.

Serial No. 661,660.

opening 7) at the top thereof, which opening has small indentations or depressions b at the four edges thereof. The grease cup is filled by unscrewing the base and filling the cap.

The device for feeding the lubricant is as follows :A plunger C fits the interior of the cap B and moves downward to force the lubricant out through the passages a and a in the base. This plunger has a square stem 0 that works up and down in the opening 5, and that has a round base portion a, which latter portion can rotate in said opening. A coil spring D, preferably tapered toward its lower end, encircles the stem and bears upon the top of the plunger to force the latter downward. A movable valve member E is disposed at the center of the bottom of the plunger, and is of a length to extend downward in the passage a and c being square in cross section to fit the top of said passage. This member E may be a lower contiuation-of the stem 0, and each of the four sides of said member has a longitudinal groove 6 that tapers toward its lower end.

The mode of operation is as follows: "While the cup is being filled, the plunger is held up by engagement of the corners o with the small seats or depressions 6, formed in the straight edges of the opening 6, these corners and depressions being brought into register by a quarter turn or twist of the stem. For this purpose a handle c is provided at the top of the stem. After the cup is filled and the parts are again screwed together, the plunger is twisted back to feeding position, to carry the corners c in to register with the corners of the hole 6, and the spring then forces the plunger downward. At the beginning of the feeding operation, the small lower ends of the grooves e occupy the square top of the feed passage, and consequently the feed opening through which the lubricant must pass is in efi'ect made relatively small. As the plunger moves downward, however, the four feed openings formed between the member E and the edges of the square opening a become larger by reason of the gradual enlargement of the grooves e, thus making it easier to feed the lubricant. In this way the feed passage grows larger as the spring tension becomes weaker, and the result is that the feed of the lubricant remains about the same as at the Startthat is to say, the feed remains constant. Moreover, the final or residual portions of the lubricant which are liable to be somewhat less fluid than at the start, are fed more easily than would be the case with a feed opening or passage of the same size at all times. The variable feed insures against over lubrication at the start, and against inadequate lubrication at the end of the operation. Moreover, and when the member E is in the square opening a the cup A and body B are locked against separation. The two parts can only be separated when the plunger is raised, as described, as at this time the member E is not in the feed.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A grease cup having a feed opening, and means for increasing the size of said opening as the lubricant is discharged, comprising a member which is movable endwise only in said opening, being held by the sides of the opening against rotation therein; said member having a flat side with a longitudinal groove therein which is tapered in the direction of the feeding movement, whereby the feed passage formed in part by said groove grows larger as the said member moves forward.

2. A grease cup having a feed opening, and means for increasing the size of said opening as the lubricant is discharged, comprising a member which is movable endwise only in said opening, being held by the sides of the opening against rotation therein; said member having a flat side with a longitudinal groove therein which is tapered in the direction of the feeding movement, whereby the feed passage formed in part by said groove grows larger as the said member moves forward, and a feeding plunger movable with said member to force the.

lubricant out through said passage.

3. A grease cup having a feed opening, and means for increasing the size of said opening as the lubricant is discharged, comprlsing a member which is movable endwise only in said opening, being held by the sides of the opening against rotation therein; said member having a flat side with a longitudinal groove therein which is tapered in the direction of the feeding movement, whereby the feed passage formed in part by said groove grows larger as the said member moves forward, a plunger rigid with said member, and a spring for moving the plunger and member to feed the lubricant out through said passage.

4. grease cup having a. feed opening, and means for increasing the size of said opening as the lubricant is discharged, comprismg a member which is movable endwise in said opening, said member having a long tud nal groove which is tapered in the directlon of the feeding movement, whereby the feed passage formed in part by said with said member and provided with a stem which extends through said hole, said stem being non-rotatable in said hole except at the base thereof, and said member being non-rotatable in said opening, whereby the body cannot be removed except when the plunger is at the limit of its upward movement.

5. A grease cup having a feed opening, and means for increasing the size of said opening as the lubricant is discharged, comprising a member which is movable endwise only in said opening, being held by the sides of the opening against rotation therein; said member having a flat side with a longitudinal groove therein which is tapered in the direction of the feeding movement, whereby the feed passage formed in part by said groove grows larger as the said member moves forward, said member having another groove of like character, whereby a plurality of variable feed openings are provided.

6. In a grease cup, a base and a body, a connection between said base and body, and means providing a feed opening that grows larger as the lubricant is discharged, said means having provisions for preventing separation of the base and body.

7. In a grease cup, a feeding device therefor comprising a feed opening, means for increasing the size of said opening to facilitate the gradual discharge of the lubricant from the cup, and mechanism including said means for preventing the cup from being opened.

8. In a grease cup, a'feeding device therefor comprising a feed opening, a springactuated plunger fordischarging the lubricant, means for automatically enlarging said opening as thelubricant feeds out from the cup, and mechanism including said means for preventing the cup from being opened.

9. In a device of the class described, a

stantially as far as possible away from the discharge opening adapted to then permit rotation of one of said receptacle parts with reference to the other, for the purposes set forth.

10. In a device of the class described, a receptacle comprising two separable parts 25 force the piston toward a discharge opening connected together by means requiring rotation of one of the parts with reference to the other, a piston siidable within the receptacle, non-circular stems extending from opposite sides ofthe piston slidable through corresponding non-circular openings in the tion of one of the parts with reference to the other, a piston slidable within the receptacle, non-circular stems extending from opposite sides of the piston slidable through corresponding non-circular openings in the two parts of the receptacle, spring means mounted within the receptacle tending to in the receptacle, and means usable only when the piston is moved substantially as far as possible in the opposite direction adapted to permit rotation of one of said receptacle parts with reference to other, for the purposes set forth.

1%. a device of the classdescribed, a receptacle comprising two separable parts connected together by means requiring rotation of one of the parts withreference to the other, a piston slidable within the receptacle, non-circular stems extending from opposite sides of the piston slidable through non-circular openings in the two parts of the receptacle, spring means tending to force the piston toward a discharge open- 'ing in the receptacle, means usable only when the piston is moved substantially as far as v possible, in the opposite direction adapted to permit rotation of oneoi said receptacle parts with reference to the other, and means adapted to lock the piston rod and piston in the last mentioned position, for the purposes set forth. 7

Signed by me at Ghicagoh-lllinois, this 18th day of November 1911.

aires o; MASTIN.

Witnesses:

E. H. Cuzco, Geo. F. ScHMrD'r. 

